Ensuring that there is an informed consent on the part of the patient before a surgery is done, illustrates the bioethical principle of:
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Autonomy. Autonomy refers to the principle of respecting an individual's right to make their own decisions. Informed consent before surgery ensures that the patient has the necessary information to make an autonomous decision about their treatment. This involves understanding the risks, benefits, and alternatives to the proposed surgery.
A: Beneficence focuses on promoting the well-being of the patient, which is important in healthcare but not directly related to informed consent.
C: Truth telling/veracity is about honesty in communication, which is important in healthcare but not the main principle illustrated by informed consent.
D: Non-maleficence refers to the principle of doing no harm, which is related to patient safety but not the primary focus of informed consent.
Nokea